After Google I/O last month, this week was Apple's time to shine, as its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicked off in San Jose on Monday.

WWDC is usually (though not always) a software show; in recent years, you get the newest version of iOS and macOS, and maybe a Mac refresh, but big-ticket items like iPhones and iPads get their own events in the fall.

We didn't get an iPhone 8 at WWDC 2017, but there was a new iPad Pro, as well as a sneak peek at two gadgets coming in December: one expected, one not. If you didn't get a chance to watch the entire opening keynote, though, you'd be forgiven for not knowing everything Apple announced. For a quick recap, check out the list below, which covers the show's highlights. And let us know in the comments if there's anyting we missed or that excited you about what Apple has in store for the rest of 2017.

1
Apple HomePod

HomePod, a Siri-backed smart speaker, arrives in December for $349. And while comparisons to the Amazon Echo are natural, Apple is positioning HomePod as, first and foremost, a music speaker. Like other Apple products, this is locked into the company's ecosystem: you'll need Apple Music and an iOS device to control it, and you use Siri to make demands. But a tie-in with HomeKit means you can connect it to any smart home gadget that's HomeKit-enabled and use Siri to control lights, smart locks, security cameras, and more. If you're on the fence, check out Apple HomePod vs. Amazon Echo vs. Google Home.

2
iMac Pro

Do you have $5,000 to spend on a desktop? Apple has the PC for you. At WWDC, we got a sneak peek at the iPad Pro, a behemoth system that also arrives in December. It's aimed at video editors combing through 4K footage and game developers working on their latest virtual reality title, but those with deep pockets who just like pretty gadgets can certainly ante up.

Aesthetically, the iMac Pro distinguishes itself from other iMacs thanks to a gray finish. But there's a lot going on under the hood, too. An all-new centrifugal cooling system with two fans to draw heat away from the system's Xeon processor can be configured with eight, 10, or 18 cores. The dedicated graphics card is from AMD's new workstation-class Vega series, which will allow up to 22 teraflops of half-precision floating point performance. It's a beast.

3
New iMacs

In addition to the iMac Pro tease, Apple delivered with three new iMacs that are on sale now. They bring cutting-edge computing power and improved displays to the 21.5-inch iMac, the 21.5-inch iMac with a 4K Retina display, and the 27-inch iMac with a 5K display. For more, check out Apple's New iMacs: Should You Upgrade?

4
iPad Pro Productivity

Apple surprised the WWDC crowd with new iPad Pros: a 10.5-inch version that replaces the 9.7-inch tablet, and an upgraded version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Apple promises better Pencil reaction times and an A10X chip that will likely make for a smoother experience.

The new iPad Pros are available now and will ship with iOS 10, but when iOS 11 arrives in the fall, it will add some new productivity options to iPad Pro, including support for files and drag-and-drop functionality. For more, check out Apple's New iPad Pro: Should You Upgrade?

5
macOS High Sierra

At WWDC, developers get their hands on new versions of Apple's operating systems. On the Mac front, High Sierra is what's next for macOS. Of note is that High Sierra runs on the Apple File System (APFS), adding native encryption, and better support for file manipulation and reading data from external and internal flash storage devices. In good news for web surfers but bad news for publishers, meanwhile, High Sierra includes an autoplay blocking feature, which will stop websites from automatically playing video or audio content. Look for a public beta next month and a full release this fall.

6
iOS 11

On the mobile front, we got iOS 11. With hundreds of new features, not everything can be a winner. A new look for the App Store? Revamped Control Center? Meh. But we did get person-to-person payments on Apple Pay, Siri translation, multi-room audio, and some updates to Apple Maps intended to keep your eyes on the road. Check out this rundown of iOS 11's coolest features and here's how to get it.

7
Apple Tackles Augmented Reality

Though some of its biggest rivals have embraced virtual and augmented reality, from Microsoft's HoloLens to Samsung's Gear VR, Apple has mostly observed from the sidelines. Last fall, Tim Cook said AR was "incredibly interesting," but that's all we've heard from Cupertino on the matter, even as millions of Pokémon fans ran around the country last summer catching AR creatures on their iPhones.

Now it appears Apple is finally ready to embrace AR with new tools for software developers that will allow them to bring augmented reality apps to iPhones and iPads. Using ARKit, developers will be able to create AR apps that work with people's existing iPhones; you won't need a special phone to see AR tricks like you do with Google Tango. Apple just needs developers to get creating.

8
WatchOS 4

The WWDC keynote kicked off with an update on watchOS 4, which arrives this fall. There are some new watch faces (Buzz Lightyear!) but the big focus is on fitness. Look for more push notifications that will help you stay motivated or inspire you to get off your butt, easier ways to track your workouts, and pairing with compatible gym equipment, among other things. As a fitness tracker, the Apple Watch is not cheap, but if you're an exercise buff who's fully enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem and have a couple hundred bucks to spare, Apple Watch (like the Nike+ variant) with watchOS 4 could help you step up your workouts.

9
MacBook Air Lives

It was easy to miss, but Apple also announced a little boost for its MacBook Air. You can no longer buy an 11-inch version, but you can get a 13-inch starting at $999 with a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD storage, and Intel HD Graphics 6000. Or you can just upgrade to a MacBook Pro or MacBook, both of which got Kaby Lake upgrades.

10
Amazon Video on Apple TV

This one's a little niche, but if you have an Apple TV, you will soon be able to tap into Amazon Video. So if you want to watch Transparent or Man in the High Castle, you can do so from your Apple TV; you won't have to hook up a separate Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick.

About the Author

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships a... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.